US3665924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suturing and dividing organic tubular structures
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
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Filing: 1970-10-13
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A cartridge and an instrument which, together serve to mechanically suture and divide organic tubular structures, such as blood vessels. The cartridge houses a plurality of staples and operates in three stages. After the tubular structure is inserted between the jaws of the cartridge, the cartridge jaws close, a pair of pushers come forward and suture the organic structure in two spaced locations with a pair of surgical staples, and a blade comes forward and divides the tubular structure at a position intermediate the two staples. The staples are indexed and readied for discharge by means of a pair of leaf springs which act between a fixed rail assembly and a movable wrap assembly. The instrument is adapted to coact with the novel cartridge and depends upon the interaction of three springs to bring about the three-stage operation of the cartridge.
Inventors
- 👤 Douglas G Noiles
- 👤 Graham W Bryan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 22:06
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/12; A61B17/128; A61B17/32; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53709; Y10T29/53787
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
377 words
A cartridge adapted for removeable insertion on a sUrgical instrument and having the capability of confining an organic tubular structure in a closed area within its jaws, encircling the structure with a pair of spaced apart surgical staples, suturing the structure with said surgical staples, and dividing the structure intermediate said surgical staples, the cartridge comprising: an elongated main body portion moveable relative to a rail assembly; a first pair of spaced apart guide tracks in said main body portion, each such guide track for guiding one staple of a plurality of serially spaced staple pairs along the length of said main body portion; a second pair of spaced apart guide tracks in said main body portion, each such guide track for singly guiding one staple of said plurality of staple pairs out of the region of said main body portion; the respective planes of each of said first pair of guide tracks being parallel to and spaced from the respective planes of each of said second pair of guide tracks for singly transferring said staple pairs from said first pair of guide tracks to said second pair of guide tracks; a third pair of guide tracks continuous with and in the plane of said second pair of guide tracks and extending external to said main body portion; a closeable opening in each of said third pair of guide tracks for the insertion of the organic tubular structure; a pair of curved anvil means continuous with and in the respective planes of said third pair of guide tracks; a pair of pusher elements in the respective planes of said second pair of guide tracks, each pusher element for singly advancing one staple of said plurality of staple pairs along one of said second guide tracks and one of said third guide tracks and for forming such staple on respective anvil means; knife means centrally mounted for movement in said main body portion intermediate the individual guide tracks and serving to divide said organic tubular structure; and means for transferring each of the staples of the forwardmost staple pair in said main body portion from the respective guide track of the first pair of guide tracks to the respective guide track of the second pair of guide tracks.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
377 words
A cartridge adapted for removeable insertion on a sUrgical instrument and having the capability of confining an organic tubular structure in a closed area within its jaws, encircling the structure with a pair of spaced apart surgical staples, suturing the structure with said surgical staples, and dividing the structure intermediate said surgical staples, the cartridge comprising: an elongated main body portion moveable relative to a rail assembly; a first pair of spaced apart guide tracks in said main body portion, each such guide track for guiding one staple of a plurality of serially spaced staple pairs along the length of said main body portion; a second pair of spaced apart guide tracks in said main body portion, each such guide track for singly guiding one staple of said plurality of staple pairs out of the region of said main body portion; the respective planes of each of said first pair of guide tracks being parallel to and spaced from the respective planes of each of said second pair of guide tracks for singly transferring said staple pairs from said first pair of guide tracks to said second pair of guide tracks; a third pair of guide tracks continuous with and in the plane of said second pair of guide tracks and extending external to said main body portion; a closeable opening in each of said third pair of guide tracks for the insertion of the organic tubular structure; a pair of curved anvil means continuous with and in the respective planes of said third pair of guide tracks; a pair of pusher elements in the respective planes of said second pair of guide tracks, each pusher element for singly advancing one staple of said plurality of staple pairs along one of said second guide tracks and one of said third guide tracks and for forming such staple on respective anvil means; knife means centrally mounted for movement in said main body portion intermediate the individual guide tracks and serving to divide said organic tubular structure; and means for transferring each of the staples of the forwardmost staple pair in said main body portion from the respective guide track of the first pair of guide tracks to the respective guide track of the second pair of guide tracks.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein the means for transferring staples takes the form of a first set of staple-holding elements for maintaining the plurality of staples fixed with respect to said rail assembly during the movement of said main body portion away from said curved anvil means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The cartridge recited in claim 2, and further comprising: a second set of staple-holding elements for maintaining the plurality of staples fixed with respect to said main body portion during the movement of said main body portion toward said curved anvil means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
71 words
The cartridge recited in claim 3, wherein said first set of staple-holding elements takes the form of a plurality of flexible members extending into the respective planes of said plurality of staples and adapted to contact said plurality of staples; and wherein the forwardmost members of said plurality of flexible members serve to shift the forwardmost staples from said first pair of guide tracks to said second pair of guide tracks.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The cartridge recited in claim 4, wherein said first and said second staple-holding elements are each in the form of leaf spring assemblies, the individual leaves of which are adapted to be moved out of the respective planes of said plurality of staples when the leaves of the other of said assemblies is maintaining the positions of said plurality of staples.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The cartridge recited in claim 4, wherein said first set of staple-holding elements is mounted on said respective rail assemblies; and wherein the second set of staple-holding elements is mounted on said main body portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The cartridge recited in claim 6, wherein the forwardmost element of each first staple-holding elements extends from the plane of the respective first guide track to the plane of the respective second guide track and is adapted to contact the respective forwardmost stapLe during its transition from said first guide track to said second guide track.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The cartridge recited in claim 4, wherein each of said pair of pusher elements is slotted so as to allow for the free passage of said pusher elements past said first and second staple-holding elements without contact therebetween.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein said knife means is adapted to move in unison with said pair of pusher elements, lagging said pusher elements until a time when said pusher elements are in their fully forward positions in said main body portion.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The cartridge recited in claim 9, and further comprising means for ejecting the organic tubular structure after the ligating, suturing and dividing operations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The cartridge recited in claim 10, wherein said ejector means is positioned intermediate said pair of anvil means and frictionally engages said main body portion.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cartridge recited in claim 1, and further comprising means for releasably locking said knife means in said main body portion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cartridge recited in claim 12, wherein said knife locking means takes the form of a notch defined in said knife and a flexible detent defined in said main body portion adapted to align with and releasably lock in said notch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cartridge recited in claim 12, and further comprising means for releasably locking said pusher elements in said main body portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The cartridge recited in claim 14, wherein said respective pusher elements are joined together by a bridge; wherein said knife means is provided with a slot adapted to encompass and associate with said bridge; and wherein said pusher elements are restrained against movement in said main body portion by their association with said knife means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The cartridge recited in claim 15, wherein said knife locking means takes the form of a notch defined in said knife and a flexible detent defined in said main body portion adapted to align with and realeably lock in said notch.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The cartridge recited in claim 1, and further comprising means for releasably locking said rail assembly in said main body portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The cartridge recited in claim 17, wherein said locking means takes the form of a notch defined in said main body portion adapted to align with said detent and a flexible detent defined in said rail assembly adapted to align with and releasably lock in said notch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The cartridge recited in claim 1, wherein the respective rearwardmost portions of said main body portion, said pusher elements, said knife means and said rail assemblies, are staggered with respect to the forward end of said cartridge and are each provided with means for associating with a surgical instrument.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |